Langford made his announcement in a packed gym at New Albany High School, the school he led to the 2016 state championship. Langford chose the Hoosiers over Kansas and Vanderbilt, to the surprise of few and the delight of thousands of Indiana fans who attended the event.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard, who is fourth in Indiana high-school scoring history with 3,002 points, is likely a one-and-done NBA player. But even if Langford leaves Bloomington after a single season, he’s still a vitally important recruit for Indiana coach Archie Miller, who went 16-15 in his first season with the Hoosiers. Miller has signed four four-star prospects for 2018-19, but adding the five-star Langford late should provide an immediate impact on Indiana’s place in the Big Ten pecking order after tying for sixth in the league last season.

Langford, who won the state’s prestigious Mr. Basketball award on Sunday, becomes the first Mr. Basketball to commit to Indiana since Cody Zeller in 2011. Between Zeller and Langford, the state’s Mr. Basketball winners have gone to Michigan State (Gary Harris), Michigan (Zak Irvin), Kentucky (Trey Lyles), Purdue (Caleb Swanigan), Virginia (Kyle Guy) and UCLA (Kris Wilkes). That exodus of talent from the state is one reason why the Hoosiers have slipped from national prominence in recent years.

Langford took all five of his official visits last fall, seeing Vanderbilt, UCLA, North Carolina, Indiana and Kansas. Prior to the start of his senior season, he trimmed the list to the Commodores, Hoosiers and Jayhawks and never wavered thereafter.

Still, it took him a long time to make the decision final and official. But the Indiana fans who raucously cheered Langford’s commitment Monday night believe he will be well worth the wait.

Fans lined up outside New Albany High School for more than two hours to see who Romeo Langford would pick. (Yahoo Sports photo)